Local government needs recognition: Joyce

NATIONALS senator Barnaby Joyce has backed calls for a referendum to recognise local government in the constitution, arguing councils provide vital services and need support.

A federal parliamentary committee on Thursday handed down its report recommending a referendum be held on the issue at the same time as the 2013 federal election.

The joint select committee said it was confident a successful referendum would clear up uncertainty surrounding commonwealth direct funding of local government.

Senator Joyce said the work of local government in areas such as roads were an example of how Australians see their "taxes at work" in their community.

But some High Court decisions had "questioned the legitimacy" of their work, he added.

"It is vitally important that government closest to the people, which is local government, is given the support they need to do the job to complete the task that taxpayers expect in their local area," Senator Joyce said in a statement on Thursday.

"I await the response of (Regional Australia) Minister (Simon) Crean to the issues contained in the report and also the vigour by which he pursues them."

Mr Crean said this week the federal government was committed to holding the referendum, which would need the support of a majority of voters to succeed.

If passed, the amendment to the constitution would guarantee the commonwealth's ability to continue to directly fund essential community infrastructure, such as road building and upgrading.

The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has been lobbying for more than five years for constitutional recognition of local government.

It urged the federal government to begin the necessary steps to ensure a successful outcome for a referendum in 2013.

However ALGA president Felicity-Ann Lewis said the support of the states would be critical to determining the successful outcome of a referendum.

"Our concern is that delays in obtaining strong commitment from across the political spectrum at both the state and federal level ... have hampered efforts to finalise the requirements necessary for a successful referendum in 2013," she said in a statement.

Professor AJ Brown from Griffith's Centre for Governance and Public Policy also called on state governments to get behind the move.

"This is a historic opportunity to improve significantly the mechanics and operation of the federal system," Professor Brown, who was also a member of the 2011 Expert Panel on the constitutional recognition of local government, said.

Referendum questions don't have a successful track record in Australia, with just eight of the 44 past votes winning majority support.

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